Transmission mechanism



July 28, 1936.

H. T. THOMAS ET AL TRANSMISSION MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1935 M R Y 5 mm m E O m H July 28, 1936. H. T. THOMAS ET AL 7 2,049,234

TRANSMISSION MECHANISM I V Filed April 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Horace T T/wmas BY AZberzB/Vays Patented July 28, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 2,049,234 7 TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Horace '1. Thomas and Albert B. Hays, Lansing, Mich., assignors to Rec Motor Car Company, a corporation of Michigan Y ApplicationA'pril 3, 1935, Serial No. 14,392

' 6 Claims. (01. l8411) This invention relates to variable speed transmission mechanism of that type in which certain gears or gear clusters are only intermittently in W action while other portions of the mechanism --are in constant rotation at all times when power is transmitted. 1 7

It is the object of the invention to provide for adequate lubrication of the mechanism and at the same time to avoid frictional losses and the development'of heat caused by the churning of the oil.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of thefollowing descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view through the transmission mechanism including our improved construction;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary 'top plan view 'of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3-is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4' is' a similar view-taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 9 represents: a. housing for the variable speed transmission mechanism having a detachable'coverplate ll. Thetransmission mechanism may be variedin construction, but as specifically i shown includes a main driving shaft l2 and a driven shaft I 3 suitably journaled in the housing as at l 4 and i5 'and'provided with axial recesses l6 and: II, respectively, in the ends thereofl The shaft I 2 is provided with a suitable driving pinion V 20 andthe-driven shaft may be provided with a suitable driven gear (not shown). An intermediate-shaft '26 is journaled between the driving shaft '12 and the driven shaft l3in the recesses 7 I 6 and IT- respectively, theendsof the interme- 40" diate shaft being sufiiciently spaced from the ends of the recesses to provide lu'bricantchamberslB and I9. 'A' countershaft 2| is arranged .below' theshaftslZ and 26 and'is provided with a gear cluster including. the gears22, 23 and 24, and-the;

mediate shaft 26 and the driven shaft l3 in axial alignment therewith. The construction of this automatic transmission mechanism is not essential to the present invention, it"being suficient to state that it is of the centrifugally controlled 5 planetary type, the elements of which, including centrifugally responsive weights'30, are enclosed within a drum 2! connected to the driven shaft 13 and therefore revolving in the housing whenever the latter shaft is driven. 10

To lubricate the gears when running in mesh, it is desirable to provide a relatively large coat of lubricant, which has the function'of a cooling medium to dissipate the frictionally produced heat. On the other hand, when the gears are 15 not in action, it is desirable to avoid the immersion of any rotating part in the lubricant to any appreciable extent as this will churn the oil and develop heat. The gears 22, 23 and 24 are normally out of mesh with the gears 20 and on 20 the aligned shafts l2 and 26, and consequently the former normally remain stationary and may be immersed in oil without detriment.

To avoid on the one hand the churning of the oil and 'on the other to maintain an adequate 25 supply of lubricant on hand and in contact with the gears 22, 23 and 24 when in action, the following construction has been devised.

Between the portion of the housing lll'containing respectively the gears 22, 23, 24, 20 and 25 and the portion containing the revolving drum 21, is arranged a partition 28 which divides the housing into'two compartments and which also forms a support for the bearings for the intermediate shaft 26. This partition terminates short of the upper end of the housing, and secured to the cover ll above the partition and the drum, and extending over and in close proximity to the outer periphery of the drum, is arranged a deflector plate 29 for collecting lubricant thrown upwardly 40 by the revolving drum 2! and delivering it under pressure to the moving parts of the transmission mechanism. Preferably this deflector comprises a curved plate 33 conforming in shape to the periphery of the drum 21 and extending transversely in slightlyspaced relation thereto and a pair of angular guide portions 3| and 32 formed by the upturned rear edge of the plate 33. A' flange 34 is formed at the top of the guide portions and is suitably secured to the removable cover plate ll of the housing.

As shown in Fig. v2, the guide portions 3| and 32 of the deflector are formed in substantially inverted V-shape, the apex thereof being posi tioned to the left of the center line of the drum member 21. It will be noted that the guide p. 1" tion 3| islonger and positioned at a greater angle relative to the axis of the drum member than the guide portion 32. It will also be observed that the portion of the curved plate 33 adjacent the guide portion 3| is of greater area than the portion thereofadjacent the guide 32. a M 7 By means of the above construction, lubricant thrown upwardly bythe' revolvingdrum 21 will be collected by the plate 33 of the deflector and will be delivered therefrom under considerable pressure due to the restricted channel formed; by

the plate 33 and the cover |tand'the'jforcefwith I the'two compartments on opposite sides of the 3| and 32. Due to therelatively greater angularity and length of the guide portion i3:|",:*itis"f which the lubricant is thrown-against theguides obvious that the greater portion of the lubricant the guideway 32; V

' The following construction has been devised to direct the lubricant.underpressure, from the deflector to the .moving parts of thetransmission mechanism; The portion of the deflector adjae 7 cent .theguideway 3| is formed with a depending lip portion 36 extending .over the edge of the drum member and downwardlyadjacent the .end 3| of the housing; This; lip portion 36 terminates at thatjradial' passageways 39 are formed in the drivenshaft l3 to provide communication between the passageway 38. and theVchamberLIB.

The-intermediate shaft 26 may be providecliwith' an, axial .bore 4|providing, communication be.-

tween the chamber 19 in the head of the driven shaft 13 :and' the chamber |83in the head of the driving shaft 2; and may also beprovided with a plurality of radially extending outlets 42:1eadir'1'g to various portions of the-automaticvariable speed jmechanism. Suitable communication ,43 may also be provided between the chamber I8 and the bearings l 4:01 the drivinglshaftl2. i1:

aFrom 1the-construction thus far describedfit Will be observed that lubricant thrown upwardly by thefconstantlyrevolving drum 2'! will be C015 clected'by' the de'flector 29, dividedand delivered under pressure to the: transmission mechanism;

A portion of the lubricant thrownupwardly by the drumawillbe delivered to the passageway 38;

then through ports 394int'o the chamber 9 of the driven-shaft and thence through the axial bore 4| of the intermediate shaft 2E5.v "A portionbf the lubricant flowing through the intermediate shaftwill find'its way outwardly throughthewradial bores 42 to the various moving parts of the auto f matic transmission mechanism and the remain-- ing portion will flow to the chamber |8 ;and;toj1the the lubricant delivered into the compartment Ill will splash over the gears therein or through I radial ducts in the pinion 2a and will eventu-' ally find its way to the lower portion of the compartment and thence through a restricted drain passage or port 48 in the lower portion of the partition 28 into the compartment containing the housing l0 to last between periods of lubrication forced against the guide portions 3| and 32, and" V V of the gears 22 -23, 24, 20 and'25 when in 310131011;

and to provide adequate lubrication and cooling When the mechanism is stationary, the lubricant flowing through the'port 48 will equalize levels in partition. 'However, as soon as the, parts are in =movement,, the,.rot ation of the drum 2! will quickly transfer the greater portion of the lubri- {cant in that compartment to the passageway 38 and: theicompartment l 0, h b re uci h frictional resistanceto the movement ofthedrumi; and :the; mechanism carried thereby and the rehav n a lubri a t; t e a part t on :i said;

h us divid n t same int s pa a m a r ments; tra ismission gearing in one ofrsaidcom-' said compartments comprising; a drum member partially immersedain said; lubricant: and'which is inconstant :rotation when powerFis; transmitted;

an oil duct lead-ing to thegmoving parts'of said;

gearing,:and:a deflector associatedwith said drum forjcollecting] lubricant thrown upwardly there-- by, said deflector having a pair ofguideportions positioned-in angular relationto theaxis of said drum for directing a portion ofthelubricant into said flrst-named compartmentandanother portion into said coil ducti-zz :1 w V .-;2. .-In' 1 a: transmission mechanism; a housing having a lubricant therein; aipartition injsaid housing dividingthe sameinto separate compartpartially'immersed in said lubricant 'andi'which is in constant rotationxwhen power is'transmitted; an-oilduct leading to the moving parts of said gearing; and; a deflector, associated with said drum forcollecting lubricantthrown upwardly thereby;

said deflector having apair of guide'portio ns posi tioned in angular relation to the axis of said drum first-named compartment". and another portion into said oil duct; the guide portion leading tosaid oil duct being relatively longer and positioned at' a greateranglelthan the otherz guide portion. .3; In .a::.:transmission mechanism a housing having fax lubricant therein,1a partition in said housing-dividing. the :same; into separate compart'ments; transmission: gearing in one of said compartments;- transmission gearing in the other of: said compartments 1 comprising a drum memberv partially:iimmersedingsaid: lubricant and which'is -in constant rotation when power is trans;

mitted;: an oil'ductsleading to the'movin'gparts of.

inverted v and positioned insucha manner "that theilubricant is 1 divided vover 1 the; vapex or the V 30 g partments, transmission gearing in the other of :7 V

5 for directing a portion of the lubricant into' said I and the two portions thereof are delivered respectively to said first compartment and to said oil duct.

4. In a transmission mechanism, a housing having a lubricant therein, a partition in said housing dividing the same into separate compartments, transmission gearing in'one of said compartments, transmission gearing in the other of said compartments comprising a drum member partially immersed in said lubricant and which is in constant rotation when power is transmitted, an oil duct leading from said drum compartment to the moving parts of said gearing, and a deflector associated with said drum and said oil duct for collecting lubricant thrown upwardly by said drum and delivering same to said oil duct, said deflector having a guideway, one wall of which is at an angle to the axis of said drum.

5. In a transmission mechanism, a housing adapted to contain a lubricant and having a passageway formed in a wall thereof, transmission gearing comprising a drum member partially immersed in said lubricant and which is in constant rotation when power is transmitted, a deflector associated with said drum having a guide portion for conveying lubricant thrown upwardly by said drum to said passageway, spaced axially aligned driving and driven shafts having recesses formed in the ends thereof, said driven shaft having radial ducts communicating with the recess therein, and an intermediate shaft journaled in the ends of said driving and driven shafts having an axial bore therethrough connecting said recesses and also having a plurality of radial outlets communicating with said axial bore and leading to portions of said transmission gearing.

6. In a transmission mechanism, a housing adapted to contain a lubricant and having a passageway formed in a wall thereof, automatic variable speed transmission gearing in a portion of said housing including a drum member partially immersed in said lubricant and which is in constant rotation when power is transmitted, manually operable shift gearing in another portion of said housing, a partition in said housing dividing the same into separate compartments, the one holding said drum and the other said manually operable shift gearing, said partition terminating short of the top of said housing, a two-way deflector secured to the top of said housing above said partition adjacent the periphery of said drum and having guide portions for conveying a portion of the lubricant thrown upwardly by said drum to said passageway and a portion over the partition into the compartment containing said manually operable shift gearing, spaced axially aligned driving and driven shafts having recesses formed in the ends thereof, said driven shaft having radial passages communicating with the recess therein, and an intermediate shaft journaled in the ends of said driving and driven shafts and having an axial bore therethrough connecting said chambers, said intermediate shaft also having a plurality of radial outlets communieating with said axial bore and leading to portions of said automatic variable speed transmission gearing, a receptacle mounted on said partition within the compartment containing said manual shift gearing for receiving a portion of said lubricant and conducting the same through said partition to the exterior portion of said intermediate shaft interiorally of said drum, and means permitting a restricted flow of lubricant from the shift gear compartment back to the drum compartment. E

HORACE T. THOMAS. ALBERT B. HAYS. 

